NYC Revival of Rob Handel's APHRODISIAC Set for Loft227 This February

Aphrodisiac, a dark political comedy by playwright Rob Handel, originally produced by 13P in 2005, will return to NYC for a limited run at Loft227 (227 W 29th Street) from February 13th - February 24th.

It's 2001 in Washington, D.C. and Congressman Dan Ferris is being questioned about the disappearance of intern Ilona Waxman, whom he was sleeping with. This puts his children, Avery and Alma, in an even more awkward position than their father. These siblings intently search for the truth behind their father's affair and possible homicide by improvising a drama of loyalty, seduction, and betrayal.

Sponsored by Loft227, this Equity approved showcase is being produced by Jeremy Ehlinger & Robin Sokoloff and is directed by Andy Scott.

Scott states, "Aphrodisiac resonates in a time where someone pretends to be a politician, and actually becomes one. Similarly, for Rob Handel's characters, pretending goes beyond childhood make-believe: it fills us with possible answers to our most burning questions. The play challenges and observes our manic desire to scapegoat, symbolize, and jump to conclusions."

The production stars Kelly Fairbrother, Alicia Giangrisostomi*, and Logan Keeler, with Set and Props Design by Matthew S. Crane, Lighting Design by Paul Radassao, Costume Design by Johanna Pan, and Sound Design by Wes Shippee. The Production Stage Manager is Kristine Schlachter*.

Performances: Monday, February 13th at 8PM, Friday, February 17th at 8PM, Monday, February 20th at 8PM, and Friday, February 24th at 8PM. Tickets are $15 each and are available online at AphrodisiacNYC.BrownPaperTickets.com. The show will run approximately 75 minutes, with no intermission.

Rob Handel (Playwright) was a founding member of the playwrights' collective 13P, which won four Obie Awards, and heads the dramatic writing program at Carnegie Mellon University. Recently, he wrote the libretti for a cycle of mini-operas produced by Opera Theater Summerfest via a commissioning grant from Opera America. His latest play, A MAZE, has been produced by New York Stage and Film, Rorschach Theatre (D.C.), and Just Theater (Berkeley). His work has been produced by Long Wharf Theatre, SPF, Target Margin, City Lights (San Jose), Curious Theatre (Denver), Theater Ninjas (Cleveland), and Half Moon (Poughkeepsie). Residencies include The Royal Court Theatre, Donmar Warehouse, The O'Neill Playwrights Conference, Soho Rep, Portland Center Stage, and Todd Mountain Theater Project. Honors include the Helen Merrill Award and the Whitfield Cook Award. Millicent Scowlworthy and Aphrodisiac are published by Samuel French. Rob studied at Williams College and with Paula Vogel at Brown University. He lives in Pittsburgh with his wife, poet Joy Katz, and their son.

Andy Scott (Director) is a NYC-based director. Favorite credits include Damn Yankees (Ozark Actors Theatre), Rent (Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre), Completeness (West of 10th Theatre Company), The Mousetrap (Johns Hopkins University), The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre), Are You Ready to Get PAMPERED!? (Dixon Place), and Molly Smith Metzler's Carve (Greensboro College). Andy earned his BA in Theatre at Greensboro College, and completed the National Theater Institute semester at the O'Neill Theater Center and the directing apprenticeship at NYSF Powerhouse at Vassar College.

A creative community over 20,000 strong and growing, Loft227 provides inspired space and hi-tech resources for cutting edge new Theater, Film, Music, Dance and Fine Art. In 2012, Executive Director Robin Sokoloff set her sights on solving the problem of access to minority friendly and affordable space in New York City for artists and entrepreneurs. Robin designed Loft227 to support new works that inspire, enlighten, and strengthen communities through interactive entertainment and political action. Over the past 5 years, Loft227 has built a uniquely successful company outside the classic institutional model, while donating over $215,000 per year towards developing artists, 85% of which elevates the voices of young women, minorities, and the LGBTQ community in their endeavors. Loft227 has supported over 500 live performance events in under 5 years, including "Queer Composers For Orlando", "This Pussy Grabs Back", "The Lost" - A New Play By Keelay Gipson, "The Giants" - A New Play By Matthew Jellison, "Bun In The Oven" - A Film By Jono Freedrix, and launched Hong Kong's smash hit, "The Easy Hour" in New York City (I AM Concepts). Join us every Wednesday from 2pm - 6pm for 4hour4years in political action. Visit www.loft227.com for more.

*Actor and Stage Manager appear courtesy of Actors Equity Association.

To post a comment, you must register and login.